Shelby's Nancy Bridges captures 2A tennis crown

Brittany Randolph / The star
Shelby High sophomore Nancy Bridges, seen in action earlier this season, claimed the 2A state individual tennis championship in Cary Saturday morning with a straight-set triumph.

By Alan Ford

Published: Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 11:44 AM.

CARY -- The countless hours sweating on the court 12 months a year have paid off.

Shelby High sophomore Nancy Bridges saw her time swinging a racquet produce an indelible memory Saturday morning. The Golden Lion tennis ace captured the 2A state individual championship at the Cary Tennis Center.

Bridges likely earned the title in the most difficult way possible. First, she had to beat the defending state champion, Cuthbertson's Kalli Karas, on Friday just to make the finals.

The showdown for the crown meant she would have to go through Brevard's Hunter Hall, who had bested Bridges just one week before in the 2A western regionals at Gardner-Webb.

This time is was Bridges who held the upper hand. With coach Callie Teague and family members looking on, she conquered Hall with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph.

“I was nervous, but not as much because I had already played her,” said Bridges. “I felt good before the match.”

A key to victory in the title match was her ability to force movement by her opponent.